Greenpop youth go back to their roots

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Eden Festival of Action 2019 was Greenpop's eighth annual environmental action event where, over three weeks, thousands of indigenous trees are planted and a host of other initiatives and programmes are carried out, with the first week being dedicated to the youth.

Greenpop is a social enterprise on a mission to (re)connect people with the planet.

They plant trees through urban greening and reforestation projects, spread environmental education, and activate people through green workshops and events.

Greenpop was founded in 2010 and has since planted over 100 000 indigenous and fruit trees at schools and other urban sites, community farms as well as forests across South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania.

Through the support of the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative, Knysna and Bitou municipalities, and CapeNature, Greenpop was able to host 43 local youth during the first week of the festival.

The students had an immersive experience and gained skills in local ecology, landscaping, permaculture, beekeeping, natural and eco-building, mural painting, sustainability practices, and environmental management.

In addition, they also practised valuable skills like public speaking, communication, and teamwork. There was also time for personal development; through leadership and citizenship training and one-on-one and group mentor sessions.

Here is what some local students had to say about their week at the Festival of Action:

"If you care for the earth, for the environment, it doesn't mean you aren't cool or something. It's just that you are trying to make a better life for you, and the next generation to come. And that changing the way you live isn't a bad thing." – Anikyle Davids, Plettenberg Bay Secondary School.

"That by being one we are great, but by working together as a team we are better." – Carlon Hennies, Knysna Secondary School.

"I learnt that together, we can make a very big difference and I think I also learnt in a way we are not really all strangers, we kind of know each other already – even though we don't." – Sahara Tagunna, home schooling.

The youth plant trees through urban greening and reforestation projects.